8 of the Best Festive Cinema Pop-Ups

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Elf, Love Actually and The Holiday. It’s a fact. And whilst it’s all too tempting to hibernate in your home, wrapped up in a duvet and chain eating mince pies whilst you watch Christmas film reruns, what you should actually be doing is meeting up with your nearest and dearest and heading to one of these winter cinemas. Sip Champagne, have your own private cinema or get lost in an enchanted forest…here are five of the best winter cinemas.

Why: St Katherine Docks’ floating cinema is back for Christmas with an extravaganza of films to celebrate the festive period, all while bobbing gently up and down on a pontoon in the dock. With classics including Elf, The Holiday, Love Actually, Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street there’s every reason to get your head down and head down.From the 4th December

Why: A magical wardrobe, fir trees, pimped hot chocolate, popcorn, snow, classic Christmas films and mulled wine on tap; Hackney Showrooms has been given the Pop Up Screen Christmas makeover and now has all the ingredients for its winter cinema screenings. From the 8th December, you’ll be able to watch the likes of La La Land, The Grinch, Bad Santa and White Christmas accompanied by handmade brownies and craft beer.8th – 24th December

Why: With just eight seats and set in a secret rooftop garden, The Berkeley’s winter cinema is like non-other. Throughout December, there will be daily screenings of Miracle on 34th Street and Elf and then in January they’ll be back Thursday to Saturday with new films. To stop you getting cold (because cinemas are normally freezing even when they aren’t outside) you’ll find Moncler fur wraps, fleecy rug, hot water bottles and fluffy cushions. Add in mince pies and hot chocolates or if you’re going all out, Champagne, and you have yourself the perfect winter evening.Opens 1st December

Why: The Christmas season is dedicated to us embracing our inner child; what other time of year would it be perfectly acceptable to get excited about panto, reindeer and chocolate-based advent calendars? Backyard Cinema thankfully is totally onboard with us all reliving the magic of wintery wonderland, with their winter season hosted at their very own Snow Kingdom. You’ll enter through the foot of a snowy mountain, venture through an ice cave and across a frozen lake. Once in the cinema you’ll be able to sit back on beanbags, cocktail in hand and watch childhood favourites including Cool Runnings, Harry Potter, E.T and Tangled – as well as grown-up specials like La La Land, Bridget Jones’s Diary and The Revenant.On Now

Why: Here at The Handbook HQ we all agree that Elf is arguably the best Christmas film ever…it looks like Gaucho Charlotte Street does too, as they’ll be showing it every Saturday and Sunday throughout December. However they aren’t just showing the film, they’re making it interactive – if it’s on the screen then it’s going to be in your glass or on your plate. Hopefully you won’t be eating his breakfast pasta, unless spaghetti with marshmallows, M + Ms and chocolate syrup is your thing.Every Saturday and Sunday throughout December

Why: Throughout November and December, One Aldwych will be screening classic Christmas films in their luxurious screening room. Sip on a glass of Lallier Champagne whilst watching It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas before going through to the Indigo restaurant for a three course meal. This isn’t your average popcorn and nachos deal.From the 24th November

Why: Backyard Cinema will also be popping up at Winterville on Clapham Common, but rather than venturing over snowy mountains, here you’ll be entering through a secret wardrobe door, weaving your way through a secret tunnel of trees and ending up in an enchanted woodland. You’re going to have to be quick to get tickets as they are selling out but you can still go and see The Holiday, Disney’s Christmas Carol and Snowman and The Snowdog.From the 23rd November

Why: The Tipi Cinema is part of the magical Broadgate Forest pop-up taking place just by Liverpool Street. Throughout November they’ll be showing cult classics like Grease, Dirty Dancing and Back to the Future, ideal if you aren’t ready for Christmas films quite yet. Come December though it will all be about it’s all about The Polar Express, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Home Alone.From Now